Hat-box.



J. T. CAREAGA.

HAT Box.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27, |917- Patented Feb- 12,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I c/ T.' (Careaga.

1. T. CAREAGA.

HAT Box. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-27,1917.

Patnted Feb. 12,1918.

2 SHEETS-sneer 2.

YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA' sie.

JOHN T. CAREAGA, 0F SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

HAT-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, i918.

Application 'led September 27, 1917. Serial No. 193,517. v

'useful Improvements in Hat-Boxes; and I -do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in hat boxes.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved hat box capable of being arranged upon a shelf in such a manner that the hat `or other articles may be readily -placed within the box without disturbing other boxes, which may be piled upon one another.

Another object of this invention is to improve the construction of hat boxes so that they maybe piled one upon the other and side by side upon a shelf so as to permit access to any box without disturbing the adjacent boxes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a hat box having` a foldable or hinged front wall, which is provided' with wings, which limit` the outward swinging movement of the front wall, and a slidable tray located in the box so as to permit the hat or other articles to be placed upon the tray and moved in the box without disturbing the adjacent boxes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a hat box of this character, which will be simple, practical and comparatively inexpensive in construction, and one that can be manufactured and sold at a low cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combination andA arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In ythe drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved hat box illustrating the front wall open,

of the box illustrating the various parts in open position prior to their being folded,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a reinforcing side strip and illustrating the lid supporting members,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the box assembled,

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner in which the side walls of the box are secured together,

Fig. 6 is a modified form of the box,

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a modified form of the box,

Fig. 8 is another modification ofthe box.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates the box in its entirety and it comprises a bottom wall 6, rear wall 7.v The bottom wall 6 .and rear wall 7 each have formed integrally with their opposite side edges, side flaps 8 and 8 respectively. A front wall-9 is formed integrally with the forward edge of the bottom wall 6 and is weakened to permit of being folded into open or closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. v

The top wall 10 is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the rear wall 7 by a flexible strip 11,.-permitting the top wall to close the upper edge of the box when not in use.

The top wall 10 constitutes a cover and is provided on its inner face with a rectangular depending member l2, which is concentrically related to the cover 10 and is adapted to snuglyt between the side walls and front wall when in a closed position so as to exclude dust or the like.

An extension 13 is formed integrally with the forward edge of the top wall 10 and it is provided with a reduced tongue 14.

The front wall 9 is provided on its opposite side edges with tapered wings 15, which have reduced ends 16. Side flaps 8 are formed integrally with the bottom wall 6 and have their upper ends bent upon themselves to provide reinforcing extensions 17, while the side flaps 8 of the rear wall 7 have the bent back reinforcing flanges 18.

When folding the box, the rear wall is bent upwardly at right angles to the bot tom wall, the side flap 8 is bent inwardly at right angles thereto, the side flaps .8 of the .bottom wall are bent upwardly into engagement with the side flaps 8 and its extension 17 is arranged over the upper edge of the side flap 8 and adhered to the vinner face thereof, the flange 18 ofthe side flap 8 is then adhered to the inner face of the extension or flange 17 of the side flap 8, the wings are lthen arranged between the double side walls of the box constituted by the side flaps 8 and 8 respectively.

A stop lug 19 is formed integrally on the inner face of each of the side flaps 8 at the forward edge thereof and adapted tofbe engaged by the reduced ends 16 of the wings 15 to preventthe front'wall from swinging clear of the side walls.

It is to be understood that the side walls permit of the opening and closing of the frontiwall 9 and permit access to the box.

A reinforcing member 20 has its ends bent at right angles thereto to provide kthe guide flanges 21, which are arranged between the flaps 8 and 8 on the opposite sides of the box. The upper edge of the member 20 is bent at rightanglesfto provide a supporting flange 21, and the supporting flange co- 4operates .with the horizontal supporting flanges 22 formed on the reinforcing side flaps 23 in supporting the cover 10 against being forced'into the box. The reinforcing side flaps 23 are secured to the exterior of the side flaps 8 and have their flanges overlying the upper edges thereof and directed intoand toward the center or interior of the box` thus it can be seen that the edges thereof will engage the inner edges of the flanges 21 and 22 respectively, forming a tight joint between the cover and walls of the box to exclude dust andother foreign matter fromisprovided centrally of its side edges with a longitudinally extending slot 26, which is adapted to engage the shank 27 secured to the upper side of the front wall 9 at the forward edge thereof. A retaining member 28 is secured to the shank 27 and arranged at right angles thereto to overlie the side walls of the slot to prevent the tray from being accidentally removed from the box or shifted laterally during its sliding into and out of the box.

A vhat retainer 29 is formed integrally with and extends vertically from the upper side of the tray vand is adapted to retain a hat thereon when in closed position. A pulling tab 30 is connected to the forward edge of the tray as at 31 and facilitates the pulling of the tray outwardly beyond the member 20 so as to permit the hat to be readily removed from the hat retaining member 29. It will be apparent that the distance from the bottom wall 6 and the lower edge of the member 20 is of sufficient height so as to permit the hats of all sizes to be freely passed thereunder ywhen being slid into and out of the box upon movement of the tray 25.

In use, the hat box is assembled in the manner described and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Hats are placedinto the box and the cover 10 is put into closed position and the locking tongue 14 inserted in the slot 24 of the member 20, the boxes are then ar- 9 until'it'is parallel with the bottom wall 6 and by pulling outwardly on the tab 30, moves the tray through the medium of the slot until the hat retaining member-is beyond the plane of the member 20, thus the hat may be removed from the hat retaining member or replacedthereon and then moved into closed position.

Referring to the modification illustrated in Fig. 6, the box is designated in its entirety by the numeral 33 and it comprises a bottom wall 34, rear wall 35, spaced side walls 36. The side walls are held at a relatively spaced distance apart by the partition strip 37 arranged between the upper edges thereof. The hinged front wall 38 formed integrally with the forward edge of the b ottomv wall 34 is provided on its opposite side `edges with the wings 39, which wings are slidably fitted between the double walls 36, the ends of the wings are reduced as at 40 and are adapted for engagement with the elastic stop members 41, secured to the double side walls 36 adjacent the upper edge thereof, thus it can be seen that the wings 39 are limited in their outward movement or will position the top wall in a plane witlrthe bottom wall when in an extended position. Asliding tray 42 is slidably arranged upon the upper side of the front wall 38 and bottom wall 34, and it is provided centrally of its ends with a longitudinally extending slot 43, which engages the T-shaped keeper 44 secured to the upper side of the front wall 38 centrally of the side edges thereof, this keeper permitting the tray to .be slid outwardly lor inwardly to permit a hat to be moved into the box or out therefrom.

A pulling tab 44 is formed on the front edge of the tray 42 to facilitate the movement of the tray when it is desired to remove a hat from the box or place one therein.

The pulling tab 45 is also formed integrally with the front side of the front wall 38 so as to facilitate the moving of the front wall into open or closed position. A top wall 46 is hingedly secured to the upper edgeof the rear wall 35 and is provided with the depending side flanges 47 and a front flange 48, which flanges embrace the side walls 36 and front wall 38 when in a closed position so as to exclude dust or other foreign matter. The depending fiange 48 formed on the forward front edge of the box is provided centrally of its vends and the lower longitudinal edge thereof with a flexible tongue 49,*which is adapted to engagea locking ring 50 slidably arranged on the strip '51 defined by providing 38 with a pair of relatively spaced longitudinally extending slits 52, thus it can be seen that the locking ring may be moved upwardly on the strip and embrace the tongue 49 when the top is in closed position, thus hold the box in its closed position when not in use.

In use of the modified form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 the lfront wall 38 is moved into closed position by exerting an upward pressure thereon, moving the wings 39 into and between the spaced side walls 36, the cover is then moved downwardly, its flanges embracing the side walls and front wall 38 on the exterior thereof andthe tongue is in alinement with the locking ring 50, which is slidably arranged thereover, holding the cover and front wall 38 in closed position. When it is desired to remove a hat from the box or place one therein, it 1s only necessary to open the cover 46 grasp the tab 45, pulling the front wall 38 outwardly and downwardly and the reduced ends 40 of the wings 39 engage the elastic stop members 41, thus limiting the outward movement of the cover 38 with relation to the box.y It is only then necessary to grasp the tab 45', pulling the tray outwardly to permit the hat'to be placed thereon or removed therefrom as will be apparent in use.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 8,

it is identical in construction with the box illustrated in Fig. 6, and it is provided with the double side walls 53 and rear wall 54 and a front wall 55, which is provided adj acent its lower edge with a transverse slot 56, which is adapted to receive the tapered tongue 57 formed on the lower longitudinal edge of the depending front flange 58 of the cover 59. The cover 59 is hingedly secured to the upper edge' of the rear wall 54 and is provided with the depending side anges 60, and the flanges 60 and 58 are adapted to embrace the side walls 53 and front wall 55 when in closed position. The outer side walls 53 are provided with transverse'or horizontal extending slots 61, the upper wall of which is intersected by vertical slits 62, and an inverted U-shaped bail or handle member 63 has the ends of its arms provided with the angular extensions 64, which are arranged in the slitsI 62 and when the bail is moved to embrace the cover 59, the angular extending portions 64 will be at right angles to the horizontal slots 61, thus retain the bail in position, it being understood that this connection permits of a. pivotal movement of the bail with relation to the sidesof the box to hold the cover ofV t-he box against accidental movement or opening.

What is claimed is:

1. A hat box comprising 'a bottom wall, double side walls, a foldable front wall carried by said bottom wall, means carried by the front wall movable between the side walls, means carried by the side walls and engaging the first means for limiting the outward movement of the front wall, and a hinged cover carried by the rear wall, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A hat box comprising a bottom wall, a rear wall, side walls formed integrally with the bottom and rear walls, a front wall hinged to the forward edge of the bottom bottom and rear wall, means carried by the side walls of the rear wall ,for limiting the outward movement of the front wall, a cover, said cov-er hinged to the rear wall, and a tray slidably arranged on the upper side of the front wall and bottom wall, as and for the purpose specified.

3. A hat box comprising a bottom wall, a rear wall formed integrally with the bottom wall, side flaps carried by the bottom and rear walls adapted to be folded into spaced relation with one another, the front wall formed integrally with the bottom wall and foldable into open or closed position, side wings formed integrally with the sides of` the front wall and movable between the side walls of the bottom and rear wall, means carried by the side walls and engaging the wings for llimiting the outward movement of the front wall, and a tray the front and bottom walls, and means carried by the front wall engaging the tray for limiting the outward sliding movement.

4. A hat box comprising a bottom wall, a rear wall, spaced sidev walls, a foldable front `wall carried by the bottom wall, a hinged cover secured to the rear wall, means for holding the cover in closed position, and

a tray slidably mounted upon the upper side of the bottom and front walls.

5. A hat box comprising a bottom Wall, a rear wall, double side Walls, a cover hinged to the rear wall, means for holding the cover in closed position, a foldable front Wall hingedly secured to the bottom wall, wings carried by the front wall and arranged between the double side Walls, means Vcarried by the side walls and engaging the wings for limiting the upward swinging movement of the front wall, a tray slidably arranged upon the upper side of the front and bottom walls, means for limiting the outward movement or sliding movement of the tray, and l means carried by the tray, permitting it t0` be moved easily into and out of the box, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN T. CAREAGA. Witnesses:

RAMON A; CAREAGA,

J. R. SULLIVAN. 

